2008 Hyundai Accent Review

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KBB Editors' Overview

By KBB.com Editors
- Updated Date: 12/7/2007

Introduced in 1994, the
Hyundai Accent led U.S. entry-level car sales from 2000-2005, mostly due to its value for the money and an aggressive warranty. Now that high fuel prices have this segment heating up, Hyundai's third-generation Accent will have tough new competition for 2008---Korean partner Kia's Rio, Honda's Fit, Nissan's Versa, Toyota's Yaris and Chevrolet's upgraded Aveo---but it still should continue to be up to the task.

You'll Like This Car If...

If an ultra-practical and affordable subcompact is your next vehicle purchase, you'll appreciate the 2008 Hyundai Accent's value, which includes numerous safety features, a long warranty and unusual availability of accessories. If your driving aspirations are bigger than your budget, you should also appreciate the SE three-door's sporty look and surprisingly responsive handling and cornering capability.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you want something a bit more expressive, especially in a four-door
sedan, or prefer a Japanese or domestic brand, you should take a good look at the
Honda Fit,
Toyota Yaris,
Nissan Versa and the surprisingly competitive new Chevy Aveo.

Hyundai's 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine generates 110 horsepower, but it's hardly a strong performer. Driving the optional four-speed automatic in our test GLS sedan, it managed zero-to-60 mph acceleration in a bit over 13 seconds. By today's standards, that's on the slow side. The SE three-door with the manual five-speed transmission can do it in about 11 seconds. Also, like most small engines in inexpensive cars, it's a bit noisy and thrashy at high rpm. Otherwise, our GLS rode and drove fairly well and scooted through turns with surprising response. Despite its eight manual adjustments, the driver's seat did not provide a really comfortable position for us, and its rearward adjustment was insufficient for our longish legs. The cloth-lined trunk is relatively roomy and the rear-seat pass-through is handy, but rear roominess is just par for the class.

Favorite Features

GLS Handling
We were pleasantly surprised with the steering and handling of our Premium Package-equipped test GLS on its available 15-inch tires and alloy wheels, and the sports-oriented SE three-door does even better on its 16-inch tire-and-wheel package.

Hyundai Warranty
An extra-long warranty is one thing an automaker can offer to improve buyer confidence and Hyundai's is one of the best, with five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage that's matched with impressive quality improvements.

Vehicle DetailsInterior

The Accent's interior materials are consistent with its price: Generally inexpensive but with attractive textures and two-tone trim. Among the least-appealing items is the central swing-open bin that's shaped like an ashtray but isn't; the actual ashtray is an odd removable cup that sits atop the console. The radio is an easy-to-use unit with large knobs for volume and tuning, while the three-dial HVAC controls are attractive and have a quality feel---except for a too-stiff temperature dial.

Exterior

While the SE three-door is sporty and expressive, we think the Accent
sedan is pretty plain vanilla. Its design is clean, functional and fairly aerodynamic, but hardly exciting. The best part is probably up front, with large wide-eyed headlamps, a full-width lower air intake and distinctive grilles---a body-color bar across the three-door models, a black-out pattern on the four-door. One nice touch is a body-color protective molding along each side to fend off shopping carts and help prevent door dings.

Optional on the SE are a power sunroof and ground effects kit. A Popular Equipment Package for the GLS includes ABS, power windows, locks and mirrors and remote keyless entry, while an available Premium Package adds all that plus 15-inch alloy wheels. A four-speed automatic transmission is available on all three models, and there's a long list of (mostly sports-oriented) port- and dealer-installed accessories.

Under the Hood

Hyundai's 1.6-liter four has dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and CVVT (continuously Variable Valve Timing) on the intake side. It generates 110 horsepower and provides a very respectable 24/33 EPA miles per gallon when teamed with the optional automatic in the GLS sedan.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the base 2008 Accent GS starts just over $11,000, while the SE starts around $15,000. An automatic transmission adds another $800 to the bottom line. The 2008 GLS sedan will sell at slightly under $14,000, versus roughly $13,000 for the comparable Toyota Yaris and $16,000 for the Honda Fit. Be sure to check Fair Purchase Prices for what buyers are actually paying in your area. As for resale, we expect the Accent to hold modest five-year values, on par with the
Kia Rio, just below the Chevrolet Aveo and well below the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.

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